Melissa Murphy KC

Melissa Murphy KC is a planning silk at Landmark Chambers. She is the Vice-Chair of the Planning and Environment Bar Association.

Melissa specialises in planning, with a particular focus on public inquiry work. Her client roster includes leading developers, landowners and promoters, other commercial organisations, some large third sector organisations, together with local authorities.

Standout work for Melissa in recent years has been testament to two themes within her practice: versatility within her planning specialism and a longstanding interest in and enjoyment of heritage work. Good examples from a high-octane year are: CPO – promoting a residential brownfield regeneration scheme in the Black Country; section 78: promoting a residential scheme for BoKlok (a partnership between IKEA and SKANSKA), promoting an SME scheme part within a Kent conservation area, promoting an up to 644 unit scheme in Lancaster for Gladman, and resisting a 1,700 unit greenfield development in Dorset; High Court: representing Southwark in the Hillside/Pilkington related Dennis v. LB Southwark case; and objecting to the proliferation of advertising (primarily heritage issues) at Piccadilly Circus.

“A brilliant advocate”, past “woman of influence” and the top female planning KC in both 2024 and the 2025 survey of the planning sector.